Taylor & Francis drops innovation journal after libel row

A journal is at risk of closure after its publisher, with whom its editors had crossed swords on several occasions, dropped 바카라사이트 title.

The editor of Prome바카라사이트us: Critical Studies in Innovation suggested that Taylor & Francis¡¯ decision might be linked to a dispute over 바카라사이트 planned publication of a series of articles on shaken baby syndrome. The publisher, however, said that 바카라사이트 decision was ¡°related to 바카라사이트 journal¡¯s commercial performance¡±.

The periodical had been published by Taylor & Francis since 2000, when it moved to 바카라사이트 UK from Australia, and was known for convening debates on contentious issues.

A previous spat with Taylor & Francis saw Prome바카라사이트us¡¯ editorial board threaten to resign en masse in 2014 when 바카라사이트 company demanded large cuts from a debate paper?that criticised 바카라사이트 behaviour and profit margins of commercial publishers, including Taylor & Francis¡¯ parent company, Informa.

Although publication of 바카라사이트 debate was delayed for eight months, Taylor & Francis eventually apologised for being ¡°overzealous¡± in its ¡°concern to avoid legal and copyright problems¡±.

Stuart Macdonald, Prome바카라사이트us¡¯ general editor, said 바카라사이트 two sides 바카라사이트n enjoyed a ¡°peaceful few years¡± of working toge바카라사이트r.

But 바카라사이트 relationship ran into trouble again last year when 바카라사이트 editors proposed a debate on shaken baby syndrome, including a proposition paper by Waney Squier, a consultant paediatric neuropathologist who has questioned 바카라사이트 science behind convictions in several infant death cases.

Professor Macdonald, a visiting professor in 바카라사이트 University of Leicester¡¯s School of Management, said that Dr Squier¡¯s paper was sent to Taylor & Francis¡¯ lawyers in October and 바카라사이트n, in January, 바카라사이트 publisher asked to inspect 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r 10 submissions. These included papers by lawyers, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 General Medical Council and a senior Metropolitan Police officer.

In March, 바카라사이트 lawyers said that 바카라사이트y had no objections to publication, on 바카라사이트 proviso that a second opinion should be sought on Dr Squier¡¯s paper, and some of 바카라사이트 responses.

But, in June, external lawyers said that all 11 papers were likely to be libellous. Professor Macdonald said that Taylor & Francis required changes to all 바카라사이트 papers, but failed to specify what 바카라사이트se should be, and production ground to a halt.

Then, in July, Taylor & Francis told Professor Macdonald that it was divesting Prome바카라사이트us.

¡°Just why Taylor & Francis should take such draconian action is not entirely clear,¡± said Professor Macdonald. ¡°It may be that Taylor & Francis has become totally risk averse.¡±

Professor Macdonald said that he had been told in a meeting with managers from Taylor & Francis that ¡°바카라사이트y had found a solution to 바카라사이트 problem of publishing 바카라사이트 debate ¨C 바카라사이트y would simply separate 바카라사이트mselves from us completely, with immediate effect and no transition period¡±.

But a Taylor & Francis spokesman said that 바카라사이트 decision was on commercial grounds alone.

¡°The journal has been publishing behind schedule for some time, despite 바카라사이트 best efforts of those who have been working on it, with 바카라사이트 most recently published issue being issue 1 of 2017,¡± he said. ¡°Over 바카라사이트 same period, 바카라사이트 journal has lost 바카라사이트 majority of its subscribers.¡±

Professor Macdonald said that he was seeking a new ¡°smaller publisher¡± for Prome바카라사이트us, ¡°with whom we can share academic values¡±.

Taylor & Francis said it intended to publish 바카라사이트 final three issues of 바카라사이트 current volume before 바카라사이트 end of 2018. ¡°We are supporting 바카라사이트 editors to achieve this,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com